Thousands of Egyptians had earlier this month protested president al Sisi’s decision to hand over two islands to Saudi Arabia and demanded the fall of his government.

Security forces moved swiftly on Monday to prevent a repeat of this scenario, blocking roads in Cairo leading to popular downtown meeting points and dispersing the march in the Dokki neighbourhood with tear gas as it took off, a witness told Reuters.

The demonstration on Monday, coincided with the celebration of the return of Sinai to Egypt by Israel in 1982.

The AFP reports that several arrests were made including journalists who were released after a verification of their identities.

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, a Cairo-based human rights group said police have in recent days arrested over 90 people across eight governorates.

Groups of youth were arrested from coffee shops and others targeted in their homes, the group said.